Since finding out at the start of term their classmate and friend Jayke Saligari was facing the biggest battle of his young life — a brain tumour — the entire school has got behind the grade one pupil and his family.

Principal Michael McKenzie said since hearing of Jayke’s fight, the pupils and wider Camperdown community had come together to help make things easier for the Saligari family.

“We have done a few small things and have been working in conjunction with the hospital, Ambulance Victoria and local business Webber and Chivell, to come up with some fund-raising ideas to help the Saligaris out,” he said.

“The first thing we have done is buy an air bed, which the family needs at the moment to help make Jayke more comfortable. The bed cost us $2500, so what we are doing now is raising funds to pay for it.

“We are just doing a few little things before Christmas and hope to have a few bigger fund-raising events next year.”

Mr McKenzie said Jayke was undergoing treatment at the Royal Children’s Hospital, where he was an inpatient, and his schoolmates just want to do what they can to help him along.

“They have been sending him letters and cards to help try and cheer him up.

“This week they have also decided to have a ‘hero’ dress-up day, and since the canteen has closed they have been selling icy-poles at lunchtime.

“The kids have wanted to do something from the start and what they are doing is coming straight from the heart.

“It’s lovely to see, they are living up to the school’s motto.”

This Friday night, Camperdown hospital staff have organised a drive-in movie The Santa Clause at the Camperdown showgrounds from 7.30pm, with all proceeds going to the Saligari family.

In case of bad weather, the movie will go ahead at the sporting stadium, which the YMCA has made available.

Mr McKenzie said next year the hospital ball would donate all proceeds to the family and the school was looking at holding an auction or raffle.

“We just want to do everything we can to help the family out,” he said.